Apple Store in Glasgow Makes History as First UK Store to Unionize

[MacRumors]

Apple's retail store in Glasgow, Scotland, has become the first UK store to officially vote in favor of forming a union.

Staff at the Glasgow store had been eyeing unionization for some time and comes amid continued concerns for some employees over pay and working conditions. Staff at the Glasgow store are now set to use their unionization to push for higher hourly pay.

In response to the vote, Apple told The Herald it is "one of the highest paying retailers in Scotland" and it "regularly made enhancements to our industry-leading benefits as a part of the overall support we provide to our valued team members."

Apple has been attempting to ease concerns from retail staff over the last several months, encouraging store managers to be more open and direct with staff over their concerns and promising action to address them.

Article Link: Apple Store in Glasgow Makes History as First UK Store to Unionize

 

[Marbles1]

Glad to hear. Always good for lower paid workers doing mass market jobs like retail to keep their employers on their toes.

Apple make insane profits. They can afford to pay their staff more.

 

[sw1tcher]

UK now stands for Unionizing Kingdom

 

[dannyyankou]

In response to the vote, Apple told The Herald it is "one of the highest paying retailers in Scotland" and it "regularly made enhancements to our industry-leading benefits as a part of the overall support we provide to our valued team members."

Wrong answer Apple. The right thing to say at this moment is "we respect their decision and we will begin negotiations for a labor contract."

 

[nwcs]

“Makes history” is a bit grandiose for this. Maybe when I visit it someday I’ll make history as it will mark the first time I walked into the store?

 

[anthdci]

I'm surprised it wasn't already, most of our retail sector has unions.

 

[GMShadow]

Glad to hear. Always good for lower paid workers doing mass market jobs like retail to keep their employers on their toes.

Apple make insane profits. They can afford to pay their staff more.

How much is enough? Should a sales grunt make a million a year?

 

[ILoveCalvinCool]

Great news. Hope it spreads company-wide.

 

[BootsWalking]

How much is enough? Should a sales grunt make a million a year?

A million? Nah. Enough to actually feed and house yourself? Yes.

 

[Freida]

Have you ever worked in retail especially in UK? You live from paycheck to paycheck and you pray that you don't have any emergency expenses (like broken something).
You also usually have to do flat share as UK is very expensive so until people have living wage then there is always need to have higher salaries especially when the company is so rich. These people work hard and should have reasonable balance.

How much is enough? Should a sales grunt make a million a year?

 

[mpe]

Close and open elsewhere

 

[Mr. Dee]

Apple has to stop hiding behind these hollow ethos about making the world a better place. Its just a veneer on a culture that I suspect internally is very toxic. The cracks show when you have that procurement executive who made that silly comment and got canned. If it wasn't caught on video, you think Apple would have fired him? Apple at the end of the day is a big old stinking business and its in service to its shareholders, first and foremost. Don't forget that. Its just that they happen to make really great products.

 

[falkon-engine]

Unions are coming. Sideloading (hopefully) is coming. Apple's walled garden suddenly isn't so "walled" anymore. But that's a good thing.

 

[muadibe]

“…..has become the first UK store to has officially voted in favor of officially forming a union.”
I cringe when I read something like this from a reputable publication. Editor asleep?

 

[cocky jeremy]

Shut it down. Have to teach them it isn't happening and they'll only hurt themselves.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Glad to hear. Always good for lower paid workers doing mass market jobs like retail to keep their employers on their toes.

Apple make insane profits. They can afford to pay their staff more.

They can also afford to shut the store down so other stores know not to try this.

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Can’t wait for all the complaints of price increases to pay the union bosses.

 

[ackmondual]

A million? Nah. Enough to actually feed and house yourself? Yes.

It can be argued that C-level execs making millions is hardly justified. Along with having a wage disparity as high as 350:1

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Unions are coming. Sideloading (hopefully) is coming. Apple's walled garden suddenly isn't so "walled" anymore. But that's a good thing.

But an android phone

 

[ackmondual]

Can’t wait for all the complaints of price increases to pay the union bosses.

Apple raises prices just fine on their own. However, I wouldn't put it past them to blame others none of the less.

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Apple has to stop hiding behind these hollow ethos about making the world a better place. It’s just a veneer on a culture that I suspect internally is very toxic. The cracks show when you have that procurement executive who made that silly comment and got canned. If it wasn't caught on video, you think Apple would have fired him? Apple at the end of the day is a big old stinking business and it’s in service to its shareholders, first and foremost. Don't forget that. It’s just that they happen to make really great products.

Isn’t that what a business is literally supposed to do?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

It seems like Unionize the Apple store is becoming a thing now.

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Have you ever worked in retail especially in UK? You live from paycheck to paycheck and you pray that you don't have any emergency expenses (like broken something).
You also usually have to do flat share as UK is very expensive so until people have living wage then there is always need to have higher salaries especially when the company is so rich. These people work hard and should have reasonable balance.

Maybe get a better job. What will you do when they start to automate?

 

[RFolk]

I have family members working @Apple Store. It's not fun, you can't imagine the amount of pressure build up especially hitting certain number (sales , worked hours) with no respect on personal life. Someone said in the above comments , Apple culture is toxic . YES it is ..
Of course, one might think "go find an other job" and that is condescending. You proved yourself at your job , invested years into becoming better and then someone slaps you in the face with "your store needs more hours, more of that , or this " . It has to be a balance work-life . In USA, you live to work , that is apple.

 

[jimbobb24]

Still baffled by this development. Plumbers form a union because they have skills and maybe it can help their field. Retail has very skills…you can be replaced in a day. You can be replaced by a website or a kiosk. I just don’t understand the movement. I know unions are dying and all organizations above all want to grow so they are looking for new members…but it just starts to make it seem like unions just exist to suck money from corporations and not to promote a trade.